The Importance of Socialization for Senior Citizens

Editors Note: This week, we will be featuring a guest writer, Shannon Wills. Shannonis a writer who likes to write on the topics of Health, Physical Therapy and Diagnosis. She currently writes for the website, Physical Therapy Assistant Schools . She welcomes your comments at her email id: shannonwills23@gmail.com

It’s true that no man is an island; we thrive on relationships, with our friends, coworkers, acquaintances and family members. We all need a sense of belonging, of oneness other human beings, and this is why we socialize. And although we tend to interact with others during our teenage and early adult years, we need an active social life more than ever as we grow old. If you’re in your 60s or 70s, it’s important that you maintain a strong network of friends, family and acquaintances because:

It gives you a sense of belonging: The feeling of loneliness and being left out gets stronger as you retire from work life and as your kids grow up and start to live their own lives. Your life changes, and if you’re not able to accept these changes and reorient your life accordingly, you’re going to lose your mind. When you continue to socialize and go out and meet people often, you feel good about yourself and are more confident in your abilities. Besides this, you also don’t think of your age and view it as a limiting factor.

It keeps mental illness away: Older people who live alone are more prone to senility and other mental illnesses like Alzheimer’s and dementia. So the more you socialize and meet and interact with people, the less your chances of losing your mind. Loneliness can have a detrimental effect on your mental health, so it’s best to stay connected to other people as much as possible.

It helps you stay relevant: When you keep in touch with other people and meet up with them on a regular basis, you keep up with what’s changing and what’s new. This helps you stay relevant and keep up with the times. It prevents you from feeling left out because you’re able to hold a conversation relating to any current news and information. It boosts your confidence and does a world of good for your self-esteem.

It puts you in a good frame of mind: Meeting people and socializing on a regular basis makes you feel happier and more content with your life. You have a sense of purpose and a reason to live. When you’re alone, you tend to feel depressed and sad if you’re not busy. Meeting friends and acquaintances helps boost your mood and puts you in a better frame of mind.

Today, it’s easier to make friends and socialize because there’s a whole new world out there – the Internet. You can make friends easily, play online games, and socialize with strangers who become your virtual friends. So if you’re a tech savvy senior citizen, there’s no reason why you cannot keep busy and avoid the hell that is loneliness.